What's In My Bag?

This theme has been floating around blogs for awhile now, and I always think it's interesting. Hopefully you think so, too!

I have two bags to go with both sides of my life. The first bag is my teacher bag that I take with me to school everyday. The second bag is my purse that I use when I'm beeboping around town or going on all those romantic dates Kevin takes me on. I want to start by saying everyone in my life hates this purse and thinks it's stupid. However, every single time I come across someone new, they LOVE it. I mean, who doesn't love a fox purse that comes equipped with ears, button eyes, and a floral print? I was very hesitant to buy this purse for the simple fact it had EARS. But (staying true to the meaning behind this blog) I am an 8 year old in a 23 year old's body and I knew I had to have it. And, I got it on sale at Target for $10! What do you think? Love it or hate it?

So... here's what's in my bag!

Sunnies: Forever 21, $5
iPhone: $50!!! (That never gets old!)--I'll be posting DIY cover ideas tomorrow!
Earbuds: I listen to music constantly
Lipstick: Freebie from Clinique (Thanks again, Grandma!) This is a 4 color palate with a brush. It's the perfect amount of matte and gloss
Wallet: Gift from my aunt for my 21st birthday... been using it ever since!
Chapstick: Damn wintery lips
Sub card: This is a "business" card I leave after all my sub jobs, a little self-promotion on my way to securing more sub jobs! I always carry one around with me, you never know who you're gonna meet!
Sharpie pen: My favorite kind of pen
Gum: You don't want janky breath!
ID badge: There are SO many stores that offer educator discounts! I always carry this with me just in case
Keys: Shows how few responsibilities I have... car, apartment, mailbox; Napoli keychain, bracelet from my little buddy Haley, and spreading that peace!

My second bag is also a favorite. I got it super on sale at Target for $4! It's big and it has lots of pockets. I also love the print on it.

Planner: I am OCD, I love crossing off items on my to-do list, and I love seeing all those sub jobs lined up!
Lunch box: Insulated from my mama! No school lunches for this lady.
iPhone: Oh, did you know I got it for $50? I'm sorry. That's the last time you'll hear that.
Camera: For taking pictures of great ideas I see in classrooms
Water bottle: I drink about 2 of these a day! I got to boot camp everyday and need to be well hydrated!
Wallet: Usually empty
Emergency books: A few of my favorites just in case I come to a class with no sub plans!
Bag o'Sharpies: I'm obsessed. See the DIY here.
Sub cards: More self-promotion. Secretaries, I'm coming for you!

There you have it. I feel like that was way too much information for a "What's In My Bag?" post but I'm ok with it. If you see me on the street, please don't mug me.

My Favorite Products

I have been wanting to do this post for a long time and I'm very excited I finally got a chance to do it! I'm a bit of a product junkie and am a sucker for a new goodie to stock in my bathroom. I spend a lot of time in the beauty aisles of Target and get really excited to try something new. I also get very excited when I see a product review on another blog! I thought you all might be interested in the products I use faithfully.

First up is the true inspiration behind this post: Covergirl Lash Blast Mascara. I am in love with this mascara. I repeat, I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS MASCARA. I have been using it since high school and have been faithful ever since. I have tried many different mascaras over the years, but have always faithfully returned to this orange beauty. It makes me lashes plump and long, it doesn't flake, the mascara stays off my eyelids, and it doesn't clump. The rubbery brush helps you control where you are applying the mascara and doesn't get it all over. I can usually always find this on sale, and it often comes in a two-pack, which is always a good deal. I can usually get it for $5 but I think it retails for $6 or $7 normally. If you love mascara, you WILL love this one.

Nexxus Humectrus is a close second for my favorite product. I use this product daily after I get out of the shower. I always have super static-y hair no matter the season, no matter if I air dry or blow dry. However, when I use this product my hair is NEVER static-y. It's a little pricey at first glance ($8-$10 depending on if it's on sale or if you get a tube or in this form). However, it will last you a LONG time. I use about a dime size amount everyday and that is all I need. Even if you don't have a static problem, a leave-in moisturizer for your hair is always a good thing.

This is a freebie I got from my grandma (she always gives me her free gifts when she purchases from Clinique. Thanks, grandma!) I have been using this for awhile and it has lasted. I always get super dry skin in the winter (gross, I know) but this moisturizer is amazing. When my freebie runs out I think I might splurge and buy a real bottle.

 This is my perfume of choice. It's called "Sexy Little Things NOIR" from Victoria's Secret. It's not overpowering but it does last me all day. It's light and florally and has lasted me a LONG time. I use it nearly everyday and have used not even half since LAST Christmas.

I love e.l.f. products! They are SUPER cheap but get the job done. I never use concealer or powder because I can't be bothered with it. However, I picked up concealer and powder from e.l.f. and I actually love it! I don't wear it all the time, but if I'm trying to look extra nice I will throw some on. These are very light but have great coverage and blend very well. I also love this blush/lip stick. I use it daily as a blush and I love the color. Everything in the photo below was $1 each! And that's standard price.

I always used the stick eyeliner until I discovered HIP from Sherri Dupree Bemis (you can see her video in my "Girly Stuff" link. I wear this everyday and I love it. It goes on easy and stays on all day, and doesn't flake. It's also a little pricy at first glance, $10, but it last a LONG time! I have been using it since last spring and have over half left. It does get a little cakey on the top and I have to scrape off the top layer once in a while. However, I would definitely recommend this eyeliner.

I am VERY picky about what toothpaste I use and this is my favorite by far. It's the only whitening toothpaste I have actually seen results from and it's the perfect amount of mint. I haven't gotten any cavities so I'm assuming it's doing it's job on that end, too :)

Last but not least, it's a requirement to have fun Band-Aids in stock. At the moment I am harboring Barbie band-aids in my cupboard. No matter the injury, child inspired band-aids will make it better :) I especially recommend Barbie band-aids because it makes your fiancés injuries much more humorous...for me anyway :)

There you have it! These are the products I love. I am always looking for new products, especially make-up products! If you have any recommendations, send them my way! I would love to try them out and turn them into another blog post.

Hope you enjoyed my favorites :) Happy Hump Day!

Hair Pastel Product Review

Oh. My. Gosh. If it were legal to marry an inanimate object, I would marry these hair pastels. They are amazing! Seriously! GO BUY THEM NOW!!!!!!!!!

I finally got a chance to dress up pretty and try out these babies and I haven't been able to stop looking at my hair! I   have tested out all three of my pastels (coral, blue, and purple) and am in love with all of them. They all showed up just fine in my red/brown hair and washed out just fine as well. They did not damage my hair (I read some comments on this post where I found this idea, and a lot of people warned against them.) I colored my hair last week and it didn't mess with the color or texture or moisture in my hair either. They did turn my fingers colors while I was applying it, but it washed right out.

I started with about 4 strands, but this stuff is like a drug to me. I ended up with many strands of color and I LOVE it. Today I put on my favorite navy lace dress and purple tights and then added some purple highlights to my hair. I ran around doing errands and felt like the coolest girl in town! I did get some strange looks from the older folk at Hy-Vee and I also got some pleasant looks from the high school checkers.

Ta Da! This was right after I chalked it so it was very vibrant. It became less vibrant over time, which I am ok with. I am also standing in front of a window here, which made it look even brighter.
Here's what I did and some tips from my experience:

I tried it without water and the color wasn't as vibrant and flaked off. Lightly wet the strand of hair you want color in first.

When choosing strands, I did some from the bottom layers of my hair and some from the top. I did most of the colors toward the front and sides and a few in the back. Before chalking, the end of my pastel had a hard layer. I rubbed it on a piece of paper for awhile to get the end off so it was more smooth on my hair. I also found it easier to use the side of the chalk rather than the tip. 

Twist your damp strand and chalk in a downward motion. If you go up and down, it makes your hair ratty. When you comb it out, some of the color will fall out. Try and go just down to reduce tangles. Also, excuse my creepy eyes in these pictures.

Then I had some fun with the color accent feature on my camera.

All in all, I would definitely recommend using these pastels. They are so much fun to experiment with and they wash out in one shampoo, so there is no commitment!

Here are links to my other posts about hair chalking. You can see where I got this idea and where I purchased my pastels from.

Pastel Hair Dying
The Arrival of the Pastels
The Beauty Department (original idea)
Where to Buy Them

DIY Chevron Make Up Box

You know that aisle in hobby lobby with all the blank boxes, jars, letters, etc. that just makes you want to MAKE stuff? I can stand in that aisle for awhile dreaming up things I "need" to make. A few weeks ago I came up with something to do with one of these lovely boxes.

My make up bag is overflowing with make up and it's just not a good situation. (I know, such a terrible problem that needed immediate attention.)

I present to you my new Chevron Make Up Box that I am oh so happy about!

Supplies:

{{Box: Box $2, Paint $1 each, Stamps, $5 after 50% off coupon, Paint brushes $3 for variety pack of 15 brushess, all from Hobby Lobby. I would also like to take a moment to say NEVER go to Hobby Lobby without looking online for a coupon. There are ALWAYS coupons}}

First, paint the box in your desired color. I chose "Pistachio Mint". I also used "Coral Blush" and "Purple Wave" as you will see.

Next, paint your chevron stripes. I used a pencil to guide my stripes to make sure they looked fairly uniform around the box. I just make two little lines and eyeballed straight lines from there. If you want it to look a little nicer and straighter than mine I would suggest using a straight edge.

Next, put the lid on the box and continue the stripe. I have complete stripes with my lid on or off.

 Using a point tip brush, paint on an accent color on the front of your stripes.

I used a lyric from one of my favorite songs to stamp the top of the box. The song is "Moshi Moshi" by Brand New. You can listen to it here. :) This is kind of one of Kevin and I's "songs" so I deemed it appropriate.

It holds my make up much better than my flimsy bag did and it looks pretty on my vanity :)

(I also want to credit Tonia for helping me come up with the lyric for the top. Thanks, Tonia!)


It's snowing like CRAZY here! Perfect day to knock out some crafts. I am hoping to convince Kevin to play in the snow with me later. There is a giant hill across the street that I have my eye on.

Hair Color Inspiration

I have been very into hair color lately so I thought I'd share a few locks that I've been drawn to lately. I currently have about 1 and a half inches of brown regrowth on my scalp and 10 inches of faded red. Needless to say I will be giving my hair a little TLC tomorrow. I had to make a decision between trying out my pastels or coloring my hair (I don't think my delicate hair would appreciate all those chemicals in such a short amount of time) and my ridiculously looking two-toned hair won the battle. Here are some colors and styles I'm crushing on as of late:

Love this hippie look. Easy way to keep my bang out of my face.

I learned how to fishtail braid this summer. Incorporating some extra pizzaz would make it swell.

This model is Maegan from Love, Maegan. I read her blog daily. She has an amazing life and some amazing hair tutorials. If you are semi-interested in this post AT ALL you need to check out her blog. Seriously.

This is my dream hair color. I love love love love it!

I would never do this to my own hair, but I think it's beautiful.

Everything about this is simply gorgeous.

Love this up-do.

 Again, love the hair color. I wish I still had short bangs some days but then I think about how much of a pain it was to style them everyday. I will stick with my wispy layers for now.

{{Click pictures for links}}

IT'S HERE!!!

I don't know if I've ever been so excited to receive a package in the mail EVER! It made it even more exciting because it arrived super early. What is "it" you ask? MY HAIR-DYING PASTELS!! (If you haven't read about me drooling over this look, here is the link to check it out).

Now, if you recall, I was a little hesitant to purchase these babies because the shipping was a whopping $7 on three tiny little pastels that cost $4 each. However, "the trifecta" encouraged me to buy them (fiancé, best friend, and mom) and when all three tell me to do something, I have to do it. So, I was very curious to see exactly what sort of contraption these pastels would come in. Here you have it!

Giant box that is approximately 100x bigger than the contents with two bags of air

Two small boxes (at first I panicked because I ordered 3!)

Phew! All pastels present. Still confused as to why one box wasn't sufficient, but my pastels are here and I don't care!!

(I know you were all DYING to know my thought process as I opened the box. You're welcome.)

YAY! Aren't they pretty? If you're curious and want to order your own, I ordered:
Steel Blue 712
Cobalt Violet 362
Burnt Madder 377

The colors above look pretty true, The orange looking one looks more coral in person. Here is the website again if you are curious!

As much as I am DYING to try them out, I just finished working out and need to shower, so it would be a little pointless. I am subbing all week and I don't want to start a craze with my pastel-dyed hair ;) I think we all know what hair style I'll be rocking all weekend. :)

V

V

V

(click picture for link)

Messy Side Bun

I workout every night, therefore take a shower every night because boy am I sweeeaaaatttyyyyy! Stick with me, the point of this isn't about how much I sweat.

Because I take a shower at night, I don't see the point in showering again in the morning. However, now that my hair is pretty long it always looks cracked out of its mind in the morning. So, I have been rocking the messy side bun pretty much everyday. (The good thing about subbing is nobody realizes you are rocking the same hair-do day after day).

I found this picture on Pinterest and I thought it was very pretty and I liked the description that accompanied it, and it looks similar to what I create in the mornings. I thought I'd share it with you in case you have cracked out morning hair as well.

Disclaimer: For those of you who don't know me personally, this is not me. I'm waaay prettier ;) ;)

Here's what you do (partially my directions and partially from the pin on Pinterest)

1. Tease hair all over. Emphasis on teasing the hair on the side of your head and at the crown. Note: I usually tease the body of my hair as well because my hair is very thin. This makes for a fuller bun.
2. Secure hair with an elastic in a mid to low side pony a couple of inches behind your ear. We suggest putting the pony on the opposite side of your head as your part.
3. Create a messy bun by spreading all the hair in the pony out evenly from the center of the ponytail. (I realize that sounds confusing but I don't know how else to word it). You can opt to leave some front pieces of bangs out to make for a more flowy look.
4. Give it a spritz of hair spray and let dry for a few seconds.
5. Pull the hair in your pony up to make another bun and secure with an elastic. MAKE SURE you have long ends sticking out. This will be kind of a baby bun.
6. Now you get creative. Take the ends that are sticking out of the bun and begin bobby pinning them in different areas around the base of your bun, near the elastic. Play with it to get your desired look.
7. Hair spray the crap out of it.
8. Curl the (optional) loose ends you left out. I usually pin mine back loosely to keep them out of my way while I'm teaching.
9. Spray some more.
10. Enjoy your extra 20 minutes of sleep by rocking this beautiful hairdo.

{{If you know the source of this photo, let me know! The link on Pinterest doesn't lead anywhere and I want to give credit where credit is due.}}


And here is my take on the messy side bun after a full day of teaching and headed out on a date with my boy.

And here's the great part about having a brooch bouquet for your wedding: you can wear the brooches until then. I got this one from my BFF Tonia. What a lady.

{{Dress: Heritage 1981 and you can also find it at Forever 21. I got it on sale for $13! I wore it with purple tights and grey boots. I am in love with the outfit and it might be my new favorite. I tried to get Kevin to take my picture to make an outfit post out of it but he said that was stupid. He doesn't understand blogging. Maybe I'll have to awkwardly do it my self with photo booth and hope nobody sees me. I feel so awkward taking pictures of myself.}}


Hope you guys have a great weekend! I'm headed to boot camp this morning (Saturday morning workouts are quickly becoming my favorite thing) and my grandparents are in town so I am looking forward to having lunch with them. What are you guys up to?

Pastel Hair Dying

SWOON! I want to do this sooooo badly! I have a secret desire deep inside me to dye my hair a crazy color, but in my profession that would never fly. The kids would go crazy over it and I wouldn't look like a respectable teacher. Well, I think I've found a fantastic alternative. Chalking your hair!

I found this on The Beauty Department blog. I read this blog daily and I love it. You may recognize Lauren Conrad, she is one of the authors of the website. They have such cool ideas and awesome tips and tricks. This one is my favorite by far.

All you have to do is twist your hair and rub the pastel. Voila! Instant hair dye that looks amazing. I want to do it so badly. The pastel's they recommend are $4 a piece (see them here). If I bought 3 that would equal the amount of money I'd spend on a box of dye. And I could use it over and over again. I'm trying to convince myself it's worth the money. Have I convinced you? Please tell me I should splurge and buy a couple! I WANT IT!

How cool??!!

Seriously I can't stop looking at these pictures. Ahhh I love it!

Update: I bought them! I bought the blue and purple for now. Shipping was a little steep ($7 for 2 $4 pastels) so just stuck with two. My mom insisted and Kevin actually likes it, so alas, I'll eagerly be checking my mail daily.